“The Korean War Never Happened”: Experience in the Life-Narratives of British Servicemen of the ‘Forgotten War’
A lecture and discussion by Dr Grace Huxford, University of Warwick
This seminar explores the variety of ways in which British servicemen narrated their experiences of the Korean War (1950–1953). Although over 1,000 British servicemen died during this conflict, it is seldom remembered in either historical writing or popular culture, with a direct impact on the narratives of those who served.
In 1993, one former National Service conscript even noted that ‘the Korean War never happened’ and many more dismissed their own experiences as insignificant, particularly when compared with their fathers’ memories of the Second World War. Using the under-researched letters, diaries, poetry and memoirs of British servicemen from a range of social and military backgrounds, this paper (and the larger research project upon which it is based) argues that soldiers used the category of ‘experience’ to either validate or dismiss their role in the Korean War.
Event organised by The Centre for Research in Memory, Narrative and Histories as part of their Seminar Series 2014-15
No need to book, just turn up. Free drinks from 5pm with paper and discussion from 5.30-7pm.
More info about the event here.